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The best little play on campus
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Students take on the Pilgrims INSIDE Elvis celebrates 75th birthday An Indian treat for Black Friday
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Miss Mona Stangley (Angela Bray) and Sheriff Ed Earl (Brad Kula) perform a scene from the UA’s production of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.’
By Dallas Williamson Arizona Daily Wildcat
ife
Justyn Dillingham Arts Editor 520•621•3106 arts@wildcat.arizona.edu
wednesday, november ,
Stilettos, lingerie, music, a few nice spring beds, not to mention several scantily-clad men and women.Yes, it was a fun Friday night. I must admit, I never thought I would ever find myself at a brothel. But hey! There’s a first time for everything, right? Before you dive into that gutter in your mind, maybe I should clarify. Yes, I did indeed visit a brothel this past Friday night, but this house of lust was not what you might expect. Far from some back-alley dive, this pleasure palace was the UA’s Marroney Theatre. Better known as the Chicken Ranch, it was the setting for the Arizona Repertory Theatre’s production of the rowdy musical“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” I am an avid fan of musicals, but I had never seen this rambunctious show. Although I had heard it described as “risqué” and “bawdy,” I was unsure of what to expect as I took my seat.
Photo courtesy of UA School of Theatre Arts
Before the show even began, the elaborate set established a sultry and tantalizing tone. Designed by graduate student Ashley Stephenson, the two-level structure depicted the interior of the brothel, the Chicken Ranch. With smoky pink walls and a second-level banister, the stage was set for sexual innuendo. As soon as the cast burst onto the stage with its
first song,“20 Fans,”I knew for sure that I was in for an interesting night. As the balladeer, played by musical theater senior Travis Brown, recounted the history of the Chicken Ranch, I knew that hardly anything was going to be left to the imagination. When one of the women takes an excited cowboy upstairs, the lights WHOREHOUSE, page B5
Scratching the surface of the Arizona State Museum
Timothy Galaz/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Ancient artifacts from around the Southwest sit in the climate-controlled archives of the Arizona State Museum’s pottery collection.
Ordinary building houses surprising collections By Steven Kwan Arizona Daily Wildcat The Arizona State Museum might be the last thing that most people walking near Park Avenue and University Boulevard would want to visit. I was one of those people. Yet walking by the building’s red brick façade almost every day, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on behind the scenes. What I discovered was more than I expected.
Do not handle with care
Timothy Galaz/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arthur Vokes, curator of the Arizona State Museum’s repository, goes through some of his inventory of artifacts. He is in the process of moving the inventory into archival and acid-free storage.
ARIZONA STATE MUSEUM 1013 E. University Blvd.
Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sundays, federal and state holidays.
Admission:
Adults 18+ Children 0–17 years ASM Members UA and Pima CC staff/students with ID Researchers/Scholars with appointments Library visitors Store visitors Admission on days of public programs
$5 Free Free Free Free Free Free Free
Patrick Lyons, head of collections and acting associate director at the museum, leads me to a room full of pottery on the ground floor. This room, which displays the museum’s permanent collection of Southwestern pottery, is rather small.You can walk around the entire room in less than a minute and impatient visitors can see everything on display within a half-hour. But the room holds many surprises. The museum houses the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southwestern pottery anywhere, of which a small percentage is on actual display in this room. The Arnold and Doris Roland Wall of Pots serves as the room’s impressive centerpiece, and provides a cross section of ancient and contemporary Southwestern ceramics. One innovative way in which the state museum provides visitors with access to its comprehensive research collection is through the Virtual Vault, which consists of a monitor and an interactive touchscreen display connected a multimedia database of artifacts. Many of the items from the actual vault, located directly behind the display, have been photographed from multiple angles to create a virtual version of that object. You can select, say, a Hopi grain storage pot and manipulate it virtually to see it from different angles without fear of breaking it. Lyons then leads me into the Agnese and Emil Haury Southwest
Timothy Galaz/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Patrick Lyons, head of collections and acting associate director at Arizona State Museum, displays some ancient Native American artifacts in the museum’s pottery vault.
Native Nations Pottery Vault, a project that was developed over eight years. Entering the state-of-the-art conservation laboratory is like walking into a library. The vault’s constant room conditions — 72 degrees Fahrenheit at 32 percent humidity — and the way our voices easily bounce off the walls contribute to the hushed atmosphere. Lyons directs me to a wide filing cabinet with short drawers. He pulls out a drawer. Nestled within acid-free boxes are pots smaller than your palm that come from the Point of Pines area near the San Carlos Apache Reservation of San Carlos, Ariz. As he puts on a white fabric glove and picks up a miniature, Lyons’ arms and hands move with a smooth ease that comes from years of experience. This was an experience that was
different than using the Virtual Vault where you can also choose to watch a featurette about the history behind the object, complete with soothing music and voiceover.
A methodical mess
The processing room of the museum’s archeological repository on the second floor looks cluttered. On the day of my visit, Arthur Vokes, curator of archaeological repository, and his team of student employees are preparing for a move to the museum’s south building. Binders and reports dating back 20 years or more fill the cabinets and shelves. Desks are buried beneath stacks of papers and stuffed manila folders. White acid-free storage boxes MUSEUM, page B5
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• wednesday, november 25, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat
Around town FRIDAY, NOV. 27
OUR PICK
Garboski. Said to be one of Tucson’s best local live bands, Garboski is apparently reminiscent of bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement. Which still doesn’t explain what they’ve got to do with Greta Garbo. Or skiing. With Mr. Gnome and The Gentlemen of Monster Island. Doors open at 9 p.m. Garboski plays at 11:45 p.m. Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. $5.
Leila Lopez. This singer-songwriter has gar-
nered comparisons to Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple and Tracy Chapman. Then again, that’s just the sort of thing music critics do. If I released an album that consisted of the sound of me clicking my mechanical pencil until all the lead fell out, critics would say it was reminiscent of the bold, independent sounds of Beth Orton and Joni Mitchell. 9:30 p.m. Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Free.
SATURDAY, NOV. 28
Stitch and Bitch. The Old Pueblo Queer Knitters Guild’s weekly meeting to — what else? — knit. Call 576-6706 for more information. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Revolutionary Grounds, 606 N. Fourth Ave. Free. Bobfest: A Benefit for Positively Beautiful. A concert to benefit a local non-profit organization dedicated to helping people living with HIV or AIDS. Which is all well and good, but don’t leave us hanging, guys — is “Bob” Dylan, Seger or Marley? 7 p.m. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Free.
SUNDAY, NOV. 29
“UA Steel: Traditional to Contemporary — The Sound of Steel.” The UA’s two steel drum bands, UA Steel and Blue Steel, will be performing contemporary jazz and traditional Caribbean music. No word on whether the Man of Steel himself will be making an appearance, but we rather doubt it. 7:30 p.m. Crowder Hall. $9 general admission, $7 UA employees and seniors, $5 students.
MONDAY, NOV. 30
“Cinderella 2000.” A “truly atrocious low-budget oddity” from 1977 featuring a decidedly grown-up Cinderella in the far future, and how she becomes “sex-ucated.” Don’t take the kids. Just trust us on this one. 8 p.m. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $2.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25
Captured by Robots. Yes, it’s a band — and no, they haven’t been captured by robots. It’s guitarist/keyboardist Jason Vance, otherwise known as JBot, and his mechanical bandmates, made from bicycle chains and old tractor parts. No, really. Also featuring Flagrante Delicto — and no, they haven’t been … well, never mind. 21+ 7 p.m. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. $5. “American Casino.” A casino in America? Surely you jest! Seriously, this critically acclaimed documentary focuses on the recent collapse of the U.S. economy, exploring how Wall Street treated our financial system a bit like one of those guys who waltzes into Caesar’s Palace one morning a millionaire and winds up eating Hot Pockets for the rest of his life. 7:30 p.m. The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $8.75 general admission, $6.50 for students.
Casa Maria Benefit. A benefit show for Casa Maria, which provides food, shelter and other services to the homeless. I’m hard-pressed to think of a snarky remark for this one, folks. I’m afraid you’ll just have to go snarkless for this entry. Featuring Luminarios, Cathy Rivers, Kevin Pakulis, Sand Rubies and Trible Double Band. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 8:30 p.m. Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. $5 donation requested.
THURSDAY, NOV. 26
Optimist Club. Club Congress’s regular dance event, Thanksgiving-style. Featuring dollar vodkas — and what’s Thanksgiving without vodka? To be followed by Pessimist Club, where you sit around glaring at everyone and don’t buy any drinks because you assume they’re too expensive. 9-10 p.m. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Free.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1
World AIDS Day. Darn it, guys, here’s another one I can’t make fun of. This event includes performances of scenes from the acclaimed Tony Kushner play “Angels in America” as well as bands like Metalhead and Batucaxe. OK. I guess I can make fun of the name “Batucaxe.” 4 p.m. Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Free. The Haymarket Squares. Now that is a quality band name. Too bad they’re from Phoenix. The Haymarket Squares combine angry lefty lyrics with three-part harmonies, accordion and banjo. You know, sort of like Rush — only completely different. 9:30 p.m. Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Free. — compiled by Justyn Dillingham
Bestselling Books for the Week of Nov. 25, 2009 Hardcover Fiction
1. Under The Dome, by Stephen King 2. The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown 3. Ford County, by John Grisham 4. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett 5. The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Open, by Andre Agassi 2. Have A Little Faith, by Mitch Albom 3. A Simple Christmas, by Mike Huckabee 4. Superfreakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner 5. What The Dog Saw, by Malcolm Gladwell
Paperback Nonfiction
1. The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis 2. Three Cups Of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin 3. Our Choice, by Al Gore 4. Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner 5. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls
Graphic Books
1. The Book Of Genesis: Illustrated, by R. Crumb 2. Pride And Prejudice, by Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus 3. The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young 4. Marvel Zombies 4, by Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker 5. Batman: Cacophony, by Kevin Smith and Walter Flanagan — courtesy of The New York Times
Top iTunes downloads of the week 1. “Bad Romance,” Lady GaGa 2. “TiK ToK,” Ke$ha 3. “Fireflies,” Owl City 4. “Replay,” Iyaz 5. “Meet Me Halfway,” Black Eyed Peas 6. “Whatcha Say,” Jason Derulo 7. “Party In the U.S.A.,” Miley Cyrus 8. “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum 9. “Half of My Heart,” John Mayer 10. “3,” Britney Spears — courtesy of apple.com
arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, november 25, 2009 •
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Students give their two cents on the Thanksgiving story By Alex Gendreau Arizona Daily Wildcat
we just traded some fur for tequila.” — Max Goldman, psychology sophomore
Remember when you were in second grade and — much like in college — you couldn’t contain your excitement to have a four-day weekend? Teachers would gather you around to make hand turkeys and tell you about the good old days when the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sat around the table and blessed the food and company they were given. Well, now that we are older and have gone through quite a few history classes since the days of swinging on the monkey bars, what does the Thanksgiving story mean to us now? Here’s what some of you told us …
“I think it’s a total crock of lies. I think it’s a story that we created as Americans in order to justify the fact that we took all this land from the Native Americans. We are using the example of a Sunday dinner as a liaison between the two peoples, when in actuality I don’t think there ever was that sort of connection.” — Liz Wilshin, anthropology sophomore
“I think that we should stop telling made-up stories to children in elementary school. There is a lack of responsibility that we have when it comes to teaching our children the truth. It should be an obligation to tell them what really happened.” — John Kozel, history senior “I don’t really know the original origin of the story, but looking back on all the years of history and all the abuse we have put on Native Americans, it’s hard to believe that actually happened. But hell, I’ll take a week off for it. It’s like if they changed the story of the Alamo: We didn’t lose,
COMMENTARY BY arts editor
onsidering how much fun it is, Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that feels a bit like homework. No, I don’t mean the dinners, the family time or even those endless Pilgrim specials on the History Channel. Nor do I mean the actual homework you’re likely to be saddled with over this weekend. I mean that the whole idea behind the holiday is one big guilt trip. If there’s one thing that makes my appetite shrivel up, it’s being told how “thankful” I should be for something. Even if your favorite activity is, say, shoveling snow, you’re liable to lose your appetite for it if someone tells you that hard work builds character. Fortunately, there’s always an antidote to this kind of sanctimony, and that antidote is music. Here are the tracks that have made me feel most alive over the last year. The Tornados,“Telstar.”The only instrumental that’s ever made me tear up, this deliriously manic early-’60s classic hurtles through space like a satellite, soaring high and then coming down in a sudden burst of white noise. Sleater-Kinney,“You’re No Rock’N’Roll Fun.”The late, great Portland trio’s most classically concise track, this 1999 song — from All Hands on the Bad One — coos like a Go-Gos hit and cracks the whip like a lion tamer. Miles Davis,“Freddie Freeloader.” Kind of Blue might be the most embarrassingly obvious choice of jazz album in the world, but its cucumber-cool mood and note-perfect performances don’t age. Paul McCartney,“Every Night.” From McCartney’s first, self-titled solo album, this forgotten piece of breezy, light pop features the man at his easygoing best. DILLINGHAM, page 5
By Ali Freedman Arizona Daily Wildcat Leftovers are a turkey day tradition. It’s easy to get stuck heating them up and eating them as is, but let’s face it — after a day or two, that just doesn’t fly. Here are four no fuss, no muss ways to enjoy your leftovers.
Throw-it-all-in open-face turkey sandwich:
This is a classic I grew up with. Take two slices of wheat bread and lay them next to one another on a plate. Heat up your mashed potatoes, gravy and turkey. Place a thick layer of mashed potatoes on the bread, add your turkey and top with gravy. If gravy isn’t your cup of tea, replace with cranberry sauce. This must be eaten piping hot with a fork and knife for lunch the day after Thanksgiving.
Simple wow ’em turkey enchiladas:
Justyn Dillingham
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“I think that the Thanksgiving story is a lie. It is made up by a bunch of people who want kids to think that we made it in with the Native Americans right away, when in fact, we took their land and brought disease. I think Thanksgiving is just a reason to make us feel better about ourselves.” — Alan Crombie, theatre arts senior
courtesy of wikipedia.org
Livening up your leftovers
CULTURE SHOCK
Songs that make you glad you’re alive
“When you think about your childhood, there are so many things that aren’t true. Like the story of Thanksgiving; that is such a warm and fuzzy thing — we made peace with Indians. But no, we didn’t do that. You sort of say, ‘What’s up with that?’ Why wouldn’t we just know the truth from childhood? It’s like your hopes and dreams are crushed, like some man can bring you presents for free just because he loves you and you have done right. It’s a fantasy, it’s misleading to children.” — Lucas Steele, business junior
You’ll need to buy a package of small corn tortillas, a good melting cheese like Monterey Jack and a can of your favorite enchilada sauce. Place a thin layer of sauce in a pan suitable for baking. Roll a small handful
safe casserole dish, add your turkey (fill the dish halfway), veggies, and cover it with your soup. Only use as much soup as you need to coat the mixture. Top with your pastry and pinch the dough to seal the sides. Using a knife, score the top to allow steam to escape. Bake the dish according to the instructions on the pastry package and enjoy.
of shredded turkey with about a tablespoon of grated cheese into the tortillas, taquito style. Place the rolls side by side until you have filled your dish. Cover with the remaining enchilada sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake your enchiladas at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until warmed through and the cheese has melted. If you’re feeling really ambitious, try a green chile sauce.
These simple recipes require little preparation and will cook in a jiffy. They will please a crowd and head off any complaints over boring leftovers. Each allows room for your own personal touch, so don’t hesitate to spice these recipes up. You’ll be a gourmet chef in no time — and you don’t even have to cook the turkey or sides. That’s what family is for!
Turkey soup:
When the days are getting cold, a nice cup of soup is a great lunch or dinner choice.You’ll need the following: the noodle of your choice (egg noodles work well), your favorite chicken or veggie stock (32 ounces), celery and carrots. Bring your stock to a simmer and add your chopped veggies, noodles and shredded turkey. Allow your soup to simmer for at least an hour. Avoid adding additional salt. Think homemade chicken noodle soup with a twist! Serve hot with leftover rolls.
The world’s easiest turkey pot pie:
You will need a can of creamy mushroom soup, carrots, peas and store-bought puff pastry for this number. Thaw your puff pastry. In an oven-
Spending Thanksgiving on campus doesn’t have to be boring By Dallas Williamson Arizona Daily Wildcat It’s that time again. It’s so close we can almost smell the turkey. Thanksgiving. What a great holiday — no school, a gigantic parade, hours of televised football and a feast that leaves you sprawled out on the couch in a comatose state. Yes, it’s the perfect release before we head into dreaded finals. However, what about those of us who are not charging our iPods for the car trip home? Those of us who are not cramming that extra pair of jeans into our suitcase so we don’t have to pay the additional luggage fee at the airport? What about those of us who do not get to go home for Thanksgiving? Since Thanksgiving with the family is out of the question for those stuck around campus, many students are finding ways to bring Thanksgiving to them. Whether it is keeping family traditions and attempting to make their own Thanksgiving feast or mixing it up and ordering in, UA students are bound to come up with some interesting ways to spend their time off. Sissy Bell, a junior, said she planned to spend the day with friends.“I think my friends and I are going to make our own Thanksgiving dinner again. Last year we actually successfully cooked a turkey and made sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and lots and lots of pies.” Amazingly, this was all done in La Paz Residence Hall’s community kitchen. Although she did not get to spend the day with her family, Bell said
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in mind that an average eight pound turkey takes about one to two days to thaw in the refrigerator and at least three to four hours to cook in a preheated, 325 degree oven. 2. You do actually have to stick your hand inside the turkey to pull out its innards. 3. Mashed potatoes are surprisingly aerodynamic, so make sure that hand blender really is buried in those spuds. 4. While that baggy football jersey is a great way to cheer your team onward to victory, fabric is also flammable. Be cautious around the stove. 5. Finally, when in doubt: Boston Market is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.. (They will have individual Thanksgiving Day meals available for $9.99.)
Thanksgiving with her friends was anything but disappointing. “We had so much fun. Since the dorm was pretty much empty, we made music videos using my camera. We danced around the columns outside, hung out of the windows; I think the pool table was even used as a prop at some point.” Some students have opted for a more laidback approach to the day. “Well, I am going home this year,” said dance sophomore Natasha Overturff. “But last year one of my friends came over, and we just ordered pizza and watched TV. It was really chill.” However, some days have not turned out to be so relaxing.“My roommate and I were doing a pretty good job of making our own Thanksgiving dinner last year,” said photography senior Kayla Ihrig.“But then my roommate decided it would be a good idea to throw all of our potato peels down the drain and let the garbage disposal do the work. Yeah, we found out the hard way that the two don’t really mix. They clogged our sink, and we had no way to wash all of our dishes!” With gravy simmering on stovetop burners and razor-sharp knifes being used to carve gigantic turkeys, the number of possible mishaps, both tragic and comic, seem endless. Therefore, for those of you who plan to cook a bird and make all the fixings, remember not to fall victim to those tragic Turkey Day faux-pas. Here are a few tips — just in case:
What do you do while the sweet potato casserole is in the oven? If you are drawing a blank, here are some friendly suggestions: 1. Make room in that already-full belly and order some buttery popcorn at a movie. 2. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (The parade airs at 9 a.m. on NBC). 3. Work off that pumpkin pie and take a hike on Mount Lemmon. 4. Flag football, anyone? 5. Spend time on the Internet researching where to find the best deals for Black Friday shopping. 6. Do that homework you have been putting off. Whatever the case may be, eat, relax and be merry. It’s a day off. And for those of you cooking, keep the fire extinguisher handy.
1. Crunching a frozen turkey leg is no fun. Keep
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• wednesday, november 25, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat
Happy Flicksgiving! How to entertain (or quiet down) the family this Thanksgiving weekend By Brandon Specktor Arizona Daily Wildcat
a civilization of little green men and women that looks suspiciously like 1950s America. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jessica Biel, Gary Oldman and John Cleese are among the arsenal of voice actors in this animated sci-fi celebrity vehicle.
Thanksgiving is upon us once again, and with it two age-old traditions take precedence: spending time with the family, and finding ways to not spend time with the family. When the football’s over and the turkey rounds its last hairpin turn through your intestines, the magic of cinema can always unite families by distracting them from each other. This Thanksgiving weekend there’s a little something for everyone, so grab your family, grab your snuggie and get ready to ring in the holiday like the pilgrims did: in the comfort of someone else’s home.
Movies to make her happy: The Blind Side (PG-13) Sandra Bullock, in what is being hailed by some as one of her most multi-dimensional performances, plays the well-to-do adoptive mother of teenage footballer Michael Oher, a ghetto-born child of a broken home. This hammy sports biopic is perfect for game-day fans and their adoring mums alike.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) The literary love affair of Bella Swan and her immortal inamorato Edward continues with the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s“Twilight”saga. There will be vampires. There will be werewolves. There will be simulated teenage mackin’. What more do you need?
A Christmas Carol (PG)
Photo courtesy of dailytrojan.com
At the cheap seats (Crossroads, 4811 E. Grant Rd.):
Julie and Julia (PG-13)
Movies to make him happy: Ninja Assassin (R) A grudge-bearing ninja wreaks vengeance upon his duplicitous comrades by the most fun means possible: killing them all (in stunning CG!). Produced by the Wachowskis, this ultra-violent kung-fu narrative is choice viewing for your hyperactive brothers as they come down from that pumpkin-pie high.
series of familial mishaps, workplace woes and chaotic coincidences leave Larry questioning his faith, both in Judaism and the ordered world he presents in his quantum physics lectures. The newest from the everunpredictable Joel and Ethan Coen, this “Man” is a tragicomic tribute to their own father; see it with yours.
A teenage boy comes into his own amidst a ragtag group of rock DJs trolling the high seas outside 1966 rock-free Britain. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Nighy are among the bombastic rock personas populating“Love Actually” director Richard Curtis’ unchallenging ensemble comedy of rock and romance.
2012 (PG-13) The apocalypse isn’t too far off, you know; better be prepared. John Cusack and Amanda Peet show us how to survive a world-collapsing-in-on-itself scenario in this long-winded, doomsayer’s disaster delight. At the cheap seats: The Invention of
Lying (PG-13)
At the cheap seats: Inglourious Basterds (R)
Movies to make the youngsters happy:
Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) tries to be a serious man, but life has a way of complicating things. A
An American astronaut lands on the mysterious Planet 51, thinking he’s the first life form to touch down upon it. Instead, he discovers
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Nothing says “Thanksgiving” like “Christmas”! Jim Carrey, the Ghost of Christmas Humor, is at it again as a curmudgeonly old misanthrope who learns to tolerate his fellow man in time for Jesus’ birthday. It’s not “The Grinch,” but it’s close! “Polar Express” director Robert Zemeckis spearheads this vivid Dickensian animation.
Movies to make everyone happy:
Golden
Pin Lanes
Arizona Daily Wildcat Do You Like To SeLL?
Photo courtesy of thinkhero.com
worth hearing
Elvis’s 75th celebrated with uneven box set By Justyn Dillingham Arizona Daily Wildcat When I think of Elvis Presley these days, a single image crowds out everything else. It’s the opening sequence of his 1962 film,“Girls! Girls! Girls!”— readily available onYouTube. The King sits glumly on the edge of a small fishing boat. As the title song — as bland and chewy as a slice of Wonder Bread — revs up on the soundtrack, Elvis starts halfheartedly snapping his fingers, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else. Poor guy, you can’t help but think. That Elvis is mostly missing from“Elvis 75: Good Rockin’Tonight,”a four-disc box set collecting a hundred tracks spanning the King’s entire career, due out Dec. 8. Despite a few nods to the soundtrack years, you’d never guess from this set that the most important musical artist of the last 60 years spent the greater part of his recording career turning out songs like“ “Clambake”and“Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” The set’s first disc — its best — kicks off with the ethereal“My Happiness,”the very first song Presley ever recorded at age 19 as a present for his mother.
RATING:
“I enjoy my job because of the opportunity it presents. Work is a challenge, but a good challenge. You learn something about yourself everyday. And it is a great way to get real life experience.” -Kourtnei Briese, Account Executive
We are looking for results-driven students to join our team as Account Executives for Spring, 2010. If you are looking to gain real world sales experience, enhance your resume and the potential to make a lot of money, this is the perfect opportunity for you. We want people who can prospect clients and build new business! Perks Include: • An account list • Work with local and national businesses • Discounted parking • Flexible hours. • Plus, the chance to make a lot ($250 per week or or even more based on sales) of money! DEADLINE: November 30, 2009 at 5 p.m. To apply, drop off a cover letter and resume to: Mike Spohn Advertising Manager Arizona Daily Wildcat 615 N. Park Ave. Suite 101 (Park Student Union)
Questions? Call 621-1714 or e-mail spohn@email.arizona.edu The Daily Wildcat is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Photo courtesy of elvis.com
It’s an astonishing performance from a teenager with no prior musical experience: sweet, dreamy and utterly confident. It points the way toward the best music Presley would make in the future. Unforgivably, the set only includes six of the tracks Elvis recorded at the small independent Memphis label Sun Records, easily the best music he ever made in the studio. We do get Elvis’s first single, his spirited take on“That’s All Right”and his crazed assault on the country standard“Blue Moon of Kentucky”— the musical equivalent of the hydrogen bomb. But“Milkcow Blues Boogie,”the hardest rock Elvis ever recorded, is absent, and so is his best country recording,“You’re a Heartbreaker.” We get a decent roundup of Elvis’ famous ‘50s singles for RCA — “Hound Dog,”“All Shook Up” and the like. They’re still great, but the older collection Elvis’ Golden Records will probably suffice for anyone who only wants to remember the King during his glory days. Contrary to popular belief, Elvis did record a lot of great music after the ‘50s, but it can be difficult to sort it out from the chaff. We get his scathing, bluesy take on“Reconsider Baby,”a track so convincingly menacing that it breaks your heart to imagine the great Elvis blues album that never was. Disgracefully, we only get two tracks from the great 1968“comeback”television special, the ballads “If I Can Dream”and“Memories.”Elvis’s searing take on“One Night”from that night may well be his greatest single performance; the rest of the show, with blistering takes on“Trying to Get to You”and “Tiger Man”and even“Blue Christmas,”is wild and wonderful. We get none of that here. The best tracks Elvis recorded after the comeback special — especially the anguished“Suspicious Minds” and the magnificent“Burning Love”— are the equal of anything he ever did. But the‘70s brought worse problems for Elvis than bad soundtracks, and the last disc of the set makes for painful listening — not because the music is bad, but because it’s impossible to hear without thinking of its creator tumbling into an abyss of self-inflicted misery. By the time we reach the end of the set, with his gut-twisting version of “Unchained Melody,”it’s almost unbearable. Some great artists, like The Beatles, have discographies with nary a notable blotch; others, like Bob Dylan, have sprawling discographies characterized by wild shifts in tone. Elvis’s body of work is the most frustrating of any great popular artist because he only seems in control of about a third of it. It’s a shame the well-meaning executors of this box set didn’t exercise a little more quality control.Yet the truly brilliant work — the Sun sessions,“Suspicious Minds,”the comeback special — will endure as long as humans exist, and any reminder of Elvis at his best is welcome.
Memphis rockers’ latest a raucous time By Alex Gendreau Arizona Daily Wildcat Is it possible to infuse the twang of country music with the beats of punk rock? In Lucero’s case, they know how to mix the best of both worlds. The Memphis, Tenn., rockers blend their Southern roots with their passion for punk. Surprisingly, the combination works. Since 2001, Lucero has released seven full-length albums, each one just as diverse as the next. 1372 Overton Park is no exception. The upbeat, eclectic vibe that the album creates melds perfectly with today’s definition of rock ‘n’ roll. Front man Ben Nichols’ gruff voice mixes perfectly with the melodic tones 1372 Overton Park offers. Songs like“Smoke”and“What Are You Willing to Lose”are catchy in a makes-you-want-to-get-upand-dance way. Complete with a horn section in select songs, the album covers a whole gamut of genres. Although the slower songs on the album are far more attention-grabbing, their upbeat jams are just as well rehearsed. 1372 Overton Park is chock-full of everything long-time listeners love about Lucero.
First-time listeners will also find a love for the dirty rockers from the south. Their all-around gelled sound and raucous good time makes 1372 Overton Park an album for Lucero fans to remember.
Photo courtesy of amazon.com
arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, november 25, 2009 •
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Sher-e Punjab serves up flavorful Indian cuisine By Ali Freedman Arizona Daily Wildcat
Ashlee Salamon/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Raj Singh, a cook at She-re Punjab Indian restaurant on the northeast corner of 1st Avenue and Grant makes bread called ‘na’an’ for the dinner crowd on Tuesday.
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‘Best’ a spirited musical romp
dim and the wall becomes almost transparent, revealing their silhouettes, thrusting and grinding to the outstanding vocals of Brown and company. But the jaw-dropping sensationalism does not end there. The ladies of the Ranch bare more than just a little leg, cleavage and cheek. And although I expected to see the ladies flaunting a little skin, I have to admit my own eyes widened with disbelief as a few of the cowboys stripped down to their skivvies as well. Subtlety was as foreign to this stage as to any whorehouse. But that is exactly what makes this play so entertaining. While I was initially bug-eyed with disbelief, I could not keep from laughing at the outlandish spectacle onstage. More than just a portrayal of the goings-on inside a house of passion and lust,“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” depicts a time of transition in 1970s America. The small Texas town of Gilbert, a close-knit rural community of cowboys and crooning diner girls, has long been ignored by the rest of the nation. However, when Melvin P. Thorpe, an oddball, self-obsessed news reporter, comes to Gilbert to expose the immoral “house of ill-repute”, the town must decide whether to stand behind the institution, seen as a fairly reputable establishment and a symbol of good ol’ southern tradition, or to shut down the Ranch for good. Junior Angela Bray delivers an exceptional performance as Miss Mona, the proprietor of the Chicken Ranch.
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With an impeccable southern drawl, a clear, resounding voice and an energetic personality, she commands attention whenever she takes the stage. Refusing to let her girls curse or talk explicitly of their dealings, Miss Mona is extremely convincing in leading you to believe that there’s “nothin’ dirty goin’ on” at the Ranch. Brad Kula, a musical theatre junior, gives a highly entertaining performance as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, embodying the essence of the archetypical Texas sheriff. However, Tamika Lawrence, who plays Miss Mona’s right-hand gal, Jewel, was the star of the night. From her first appearance onstage, Lawrence exuded such attitude and spunk that even the last rows of the theatre were immediately drawn to her presence. Though she is an exceptional actress, it was Lawrence’s phenomenal voice that truly stole the show. When she burst into her vocal solo “Twenty-Four Hours of Lovin’,” I half-expected someone to jump from the audience and sign her to a record label. One cannot leave out Chris Hixson’s portrayal of Melvin P. Thorpe, delivering non-stop humor and witty one-liners as he attempts to expose the Chicken Ranch. Director Samantha K. Wyer provides an excellent interpretation of Larry L. King and Peter Masterson’s book and Carol Hall’s music and lyrics. Great music, excellent choreography and a stellar cast made this the best little show I have seen in years.
Celebrating Deal, Deee-Lite
That no trendy indie flick to date has filched this for its soundtrack is baffling. The Breeders,“Cannonball.” Sometimes I think I’m the only person in the world who prefers Pixies bassist Kim Deal’s second band to the Pixies themselves. This 1993 hit sparked one of my favorite videos ever, which consists almost entirely of the adventures of a cannonball. Deee-Lite,“Groove is in the Heart.”This 1990 classic featured an even better video, with what must rate as either the best or the worst dancing ever committed to film, to a giddy tune that only a professional carper could dislike.
Floyd Cramer,“On the Rebound.” Currently featuring in the title sequence of the new film “An Education,” this bouncy, classy wonder was No. 1 on the British charts ever so briefly in 1961. The Clash,“(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais.”This gooey, glistening piece of molten metal sounds like it was recorded in a thunderstorm and culminates in the most spinetingling minute in rock. The Clash’s frontman, the great Joe Strummer, used to shout at audiences:“Remember — you’re alive.”If you want a reason to be thankful, wrap those words around yourself like a scarf this holiday season, and hold them close.
Spice up your holiday season with some Indian food. While it may seem out of the ordinary for this time of year, turkey and gravy can only take you so far. If you’ve got a hankering for good Indian food and little bit of extra cash after your Black Friday shopping, check out Sher-e Punjab Homestyle Cooking of India. You’ll want to grab friends for this meal, as the servings are familystyle. This tiny and somewhat hidden little gem offers dishes that serve two to four people depending on their appetites. Their menu offers vegetarian dishes, non-vegetarian dishes, sides and a wide selection of na’an breads. Their lunch buffet is all-you-can-eat from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. All entrees are served with your
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choice of spice — mild, medium, hot or beyond. The curry chicken is a safe dish for those new to Indian food. Tikka masala — chicken in a creamy tomato sauce — is another excellent choice. Savory with a hint of sweetness, the dish offers a delicious and manageable amount of spice. For someone like me who can’t take the heat, mild is the way to go. Dishes are served with white or flavored rice. The restaurant offers a wide variety of lamb and beef. There is also an entire selection of seafood, called “lerh-e-sagar.” Throw some garlic na’an in the mix and you’ve got yourself a fantastic meal. Each dish ranges from $7.50 to $9.75; chicken and vegetarian entrees are the least expensive. The bill adds up fast, so don’t expect to eat on the cheap here. If you’re looking for an exotic meal, Sher-e Punjab should be
your No. 1 pick. Its blend of spices, textures and colors offer a sensory overload, and it offers one of the most authentic Indian experiences one can find in Tucson. Next door is a small store selling Indian goods. It’s worth stopping by if you’ve got some free time to complete your experience. Sher-e Punjab is located at 853 E. Grant Road. It’s open every day from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
Sher-e Punjab Homestyle Cooking of India
853 E. Grant Road (520) 624-9393 Open daily from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
The ‘detective work’ of curating
are stacked around the desks and mark the room’s different walkways. The processing table is the only area where you can see any table surface. In the room ahead, there are grayishgreen shelves covered with cardboard boxes and the occasional metate, a Mesoamerican mortar used to grind seeds and grain, that look as if they’re awaiting check out. The fact that the repository is housed in a former library adds to the effect. The room to the right of the processing area used to be the registrar’s office. The registrar contacted borrowers, tracked loans, handled the transportation of artifacts and the paperwork for loans. Since the state’s latest round of budget cuts, the room now serves as a document room and waiting area for unidentified objects from donors. A collection of objects from a recently deceased Amherst, Mass., resident awaits the attention of Vokes and his team. But the state of these rooms mask the methodical nature of the work being carried out in the repository. Despite its seemingly haphazard state, Vokes and his employees make their way through the rooms without pausing, and can locate objects easily once they have the records in hand. As the state’s repository, the Arizona State Museum handles and processes any archaeological discoveries made within the State of Arizona. “It’s one of those jobs that you never know entirely what you’re going to deal with,”Vokes said. Individuals, tribe members and private companies around the state have brought items such as painted deer jawbone found buried in the ground or a 1918 light bulb with an intact filament that was discovered in a latrine. A construction crew found late-19th century Chinese ceramics at the west side of Rio Nuevo and brought it to Vokes and his team for identification. Of course, not every item that is brought to the repository necessarily requires the museum’s expertise. “I’ve had everything from a guy come in with a rock thinking it was something that wasn’t, to a couple weeks ago we had a guy show up with a Japanese sword,” said Vokes, who has been working for the museum for 28 years.“He wanted the lettering translated. I don’t know Japanese, so I couldn’t help him. But we sent him over to Modern Languages to see if someone could help.”
Negatives, codes and secrets
The real chaos, however, can be found among the deceptively neat shelves of the repository. Katie MacFarland, an anthropology graduate student, is one such person
Timothy Galaz/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arthur Vokes of the Arizona State Museum goes through some of his backed inventory of artifacts. He is in the process of moving the inventory into more archival and acid-free storage.
who is working to bring order to some of the collections. “When archeological objects are out of context, then they lose their value as far as research is concerned,” said MacFarland, who has been working at the repository since her sophomore year. One unusual project MacFarland has been tackling this semester photographs of an excavation project near the Grand Canyon. “The researcher wasn’t extremely forthcoming with his notes, and had made it almost impossible — intentionally — to try and figure out what he had done,” MacFarland said.“I don’t know why.”The photographs and negatives have lingered in the repository since the 1960s. In order to determine what the archeologist did with the photographs and how the previous employee organized the collection, MacFarland devised her own method of record-
keeping that involves two spreadsheets and coded shorthand. She will translate these records into notes that can be used by the next person, and then enter them into a searchable database. The work can be tedious and frustrating, but MacFarland loves it. “I’ve always loved detective stories, just figuring out ways to figure out what people did. Half the detective work (for this project) is figuring out what the excavators did,” she said. MacFarland grew up on the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys stories, and has been reading Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, which is about a detective who investigates crimes committed against literary characters. During my interview with MacFarland, a student employee returns to search for the thermos of coffee he left behind. When my interview with MacFarland concludes, he is still searching for his coffee.
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• wednesday, november 25, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat